Frontier Days offers historical education

Frontier Days is a two-day event held on the Schreiners farm near Cassville, offering an old-fashion feel and teaches the local community how pioneers lived in the mid-1800s.

This year is the 10th annual two-day event hosted by the Schreiner family.

It was started by Edgar and Sandra Schreiner, but the whole family is involved.

Edgar Schreiner Jr. said the thought behind starting this event was to offer something that the younger generation haven’t had the chance to experience.

“We have a horse and buggy, farm tools, and of course, our sorghum,” he said. “We do this because we enjoy it and we figured other people would enjoy it too.”

This year the two-day event will be held on Oct. 1, starting at 10 a.m., and on Oct. 2, with cowboy church at 10 a.m., then more activities to follow.

Edgar Schreiner Jr. said the biggest change to the event over the years is its growth.

“We do a lot more things now, like bailing hay,” he said. “It is very dangerous, but it’s how they did it in he early 1900s with square hay bales. We do this so that people can have the experience.”

This year, people will hear music and entertainment from Damascus Highway, Della Mae Stouder, David Clark, Paul Mounce, Dale Terry, and Jerry White, in addition to learning to cook sorghum and other events.

“The kids really enjoy the rope making, kettle corn, and definitely the wagon rides,” he said. “It is hard to pick my personal favorite – I love it all.”

This year a new addition to the festivities is a chuckwagon.

“They were used on the cattle drives to keep bed rolls and sales,” Schreiner said. “We are using it to keep food and to cook on with dutch ovens. We will have jewelry that is handmade out of wood, the mountain man will be there with handmade knives and leather work, and we will have people cooking funnel cakes and pork rinds.”

Cowboy Church has been a staple of the event for many years, drawing crowds.

“It starts at to a.m. and lasts for about an hour, then people can get back to the rest of the activities,” Schreiner said. “We will enjoy preaching, worship, and fellowship.”

For directions from Cassville, take Highway 248 East seven miles to Farm Road 1157, then follow the signs. From Jenkins, take Highway 248 West to Farm Road 1157 and follow signs (after passing C Highway traveling from Jenkins, look for a sign with a fire track on it, which is near the turn off onto Farm Road 1157).